The Chiefs head into the Super Rugby playoffs as top seeds and strong favorites to win their first title since 2013. After finishing as runners-up in the past two seasons, the Hamilton-based team is determined to finally claim the trophy.
They face a familiar opponent in the first round — the Auckland-based Blues — in a repeat of last year’s final, which the Blues won 40-10. This time, the Chiefs appear better positioned. They won 11 out of 14 matches in the regular season, while the Blues enter the playoffs as the sixth seed.
“It’s only our time if we make it our time,” said Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson. “We’ve learned a bit over the last few years in coming close. I’d like to think we’re in a better spot than we were last year.”
Other Playoff Matchups
The second-seeded Crusaders host the fifth-seeded Queensland Reds today in Christchurch. Meanwhile, the third-seeded Brumbies take on the Hurricanes in Canberra tomorrow.
Due to the new playoff system, both the Brumbies and Hurricanes could advance to the semi-finals — but only if the top two seeds win their matches. The winner of the Canberra match would progress automatically, while the higher-ranked losing team could also move forward.
Chiefs’ Road to the Top
The Chiefs are chasing their third Super Rugby title. They previously won in 2012 and 2013 under former coach Dave Rennie. This year, under Clayton McMillan — who will leave after the season to coach Munster in Ireland — the team has remained dominant throughout the season.
They have already beaten the Blues twice (25-14 and 32-31), the Crusaders (49-24 and 35-19), the Brumbies (49-34), and the Reds (27-15). Their only major stumble came in a 35-17 loss to the Hurricanes.
Known for their fast-paced play and wide use of the field, the Chiefs are hard to contain when in possession. Flyhalf Damian McKenzie has been crucial in directing their high-tempo attack. The Hurricanes proved the best way to beat the Chiefs is by keeping the ball out of their hands.
In contrast, the Blues play a more conservative style and often struggle when forced to defend across the full width of the field.
Australian Hopes Rest on Brumbies and Reds
The Crusaders have returned to form this season after winning just four matches last year. They’ve also won 11 games this season but have a weaker points differential compared to the Chiefs.
Australia’s hopes lie with the Reds and Brumbies. However, no Australian team has ever won a playoff match in New Zealand — a streak of 19 losses. The Brumbies are 0-8, and the Reds are 0-4 in such matches.
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt will be closely watching the playoffs, especially the Reds’ back row and young flyhalf Tom Lynagh.
“We know you’ve just got to play smart footy in finals,” Lynagh said. “When things don’t go our way, we need to focus on getting little wins and building momentum.”
The Brumbies are once again Australia’s top playoff seed. They won two games against New Zealand teams during the regular season but lost to the Hurricanes 35-29 in Canberra.
“We’ve been pretty firm on making sure we get a good performance,” said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham. “We can’t get distracted by other games or results.”
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